For people with autism spectrum disorder it can be hard to find social activities they can enjoy with family members. Mesa, AZ tried to help alleviate that by becoming the FIRST-EVER AUTISM-CERTIFIED CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
Not too long ago I wrote about some of the things we did and places we explored in Mesa. It was our first time actually going out and exploring what it meant to be an Autism-certified city. So if you ever find yourself in Mesa and need some recommendations I will share with you some activities for people with autism. I only mentioned a few places in that first post so I felt like I needed to give a part 2. This is the continuation of that post.
Why it’s important for autistic kids to engage in recreational activities
Autistic kids ( and autistic adults!) often have a hard time making connections and friends. A great way to get them to open up and feel more comfortable around others is by engaging in some leisure activities. It’s not just great for social and fine motor skills but it can be so beneficial to mental health. Everyone wants to feel a sense of belonging. Some of the benefits for autistic individuals include:
- Improved communication skills
- Finding friends with similar interests
- Can improve gross motor skills
- It can lead to new interests and other hobbies
- Increased autonomy and a greater independence
- The feeling of community and acceptance
What are good activities for autistic people?
It is so important for us to make sure our kids get as much social interaction as possible. Socializing with their peers is how young children learn and develop a lot of skills. There are so many sensory activities that you can do with autistic children. The main thing to remember is everyone has different sensory needs and interests. What works for one might not work for another child. Some fun activities we have enjoyed as a family are board games, cooking together, going out for hikes, and gardening.
What are some autism-friendly activities we have found in our city?
Arizona Museum of Natural History
I wasn’t surprised when we got to the Arizona Museum of Natural History, that all of the staff we interacted with were extremely nice and knowledgeable. So far Mesa was proving that the training had paid off. Here we were able to see dinosaurs! The main attraction is Dinosaur Mountain, with animatronic dinosaurs, a 3-story indoor waterfall, and a flash flood that happens every 30 minutes. In addition to dinosaurs, there were other educational activities like visitors can pan for gold, learning about volcanoes, or discovering Arizona’s connections to ancient civilizations, including the Maya! When we went there was a Paleontologist hard at work who also talked us through his entire process.
Planespotting
Now you know we are an aviation family so a fun way for us to spend the day is by planespotting! Plane spotting is a hobby of watching and capturing aircraft movements at an airport. If you aren’t new here then you already know my husband is a pilot. This was a great opportunity for him to be able to bond with the boys over their shared love of planes. There are quite a few airports that also have restaurants where you can eat and watch the aircraft take off and land. We usually go to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
Musical Instrument Museum
MIM’s five Geographic Galleries showcase global music and cultures through multimedia that allows you to hear, see, and feel the creative spirit of people as they play their instruments. Our son absolutely loves music and this is like music therapy for him. When he was younger I used to take him to a mini music makers class. It was a fun activity for kids his age. They have all kinds of classes, galleries, workshops, and so much more! If the sensory stimulation proves to be too much MIM has some great places to take a break, including the Family Center which has books, toys, family restrooms, and a nursing station. The Experience Gallery is where you get to play with the instruments! If transitions are tough for your young one then it might be a good idea to visit this room last. The Encore Gallery is also available with the same instruments but fewer people.
Cactus League Spring Training
This is one of the most popular outdoor activities here. Mesa is home to two spring training teams – the Chicago Cubs, and The Oakland A’s. If you haven’t already read my post about Spring Training in Mesa, you can read it HERE. The Cubs play at Sloan Park and the A’s play at Hohokam stadium. Every year thousands of fans come to watch their favorite teams play. Throughout the Spring Training season, you can watch the Chicago Cubs practicing and exercising at the Nike Performance Center and Riverview Baseball Complex. You can also tailgate, explore Stomper Kid Zone, or even visit Riverview Park. Watching a baseball game was a new activity for us. However, Spring Training is a good way to introduce the kiddos to a great game.
Jake’s Unlimited
This is probably one of our favorite places. We even had our son’s birthday party here. He is in a developmental preschool class and all of his peers loved it. This expansive indoor play area is the ideal destination to “beat the heat” with your friends and family! There was even stuff for the younger children to do. Whether you are into bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, or video games, the fun is truly unlimited. Not to mention the great prizes and prices as well! I should also mention they have a really great buffet that’s included with admission.
If you decide to visit any of these great places I urge you to take advantage of the sensory guides. Not only are they helpful for planning out your day, but they could possibly help prevent any discomfort. It can also be a great way to create visual schedules for your child. Trying new activities can sometimes be difficult for people with special needs however there are some ways to make it easier. If you know that your child is sensitive to certain sounds, sights, etc. you could avoid that attraction. You can also choose to only visit types of activities that interest them. So, here is a link to the complete list of all the sensory guides for the city of Mesa.
I should also mention that one of the requirements for the Autism Certified City certification is updated training every two years. Not only that, but their training comes from IBCCES. An industry leader in autism training for licensed healthcare professionals and educators around the globe for the past 20 years. Being an Autism Certified City means families like ours with sensory needs will have positive experiences. We won’t have to worry about ridicule and judgment. It is my hope that other cities follow suit. While you’re here make sure to check out our video and see what makes Mesa, AZ a “family-friendly city.”
There are so many common misconceptions about people with developmental disabilities. However, they should be able to go out and enjoy themselves like anyone else. It really should be the industry standard for anyone working with people to be trained in autism sensitivity, empathy, understanding what autism is, and communication strategies.
It’s wonderful that Mesa, Arizona has taken steps to become more inclusive for people with autism. Finding activities that are accommodating can allow families to enjoy quality time together and build community. I’m glad you shared your positive experiences there!
Thank you, Kisha, for this informative post! As a parent of an autistic child, finding activities that cater to their unique needs can be a challenge. Hearing about Mesa, AZ becoming the first Autism-certified city in the US gives me hope. It’s heartwarming to know there are places where our children can feel accepted and engaged. Your list of activities and sensory guides will be so helpful for our next family vacation. Keep up the amazing work!